State Guides to Flags

State Guides to Flags — page 1 — Alabama The simple crimson cross on a white background is similar to the famous Confederate battle ﬂ ag Alabama was among 11 states that fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War So Rectangle or Square State ofﬁ cials debated for years whether this ﬂ ag should be shaped in a rectangle or square A decision to maintain it as a rectangle was not made until 1987 The logic was that it had been reproduced in a rectangle for so long that it should not be changed State Motto We Dare Defend Our Rights Statehood Date December 14 1819 Flag Adopted 1895 4

State Guides to Flags — page 2 — Alaska This design was created for a contest in 1927 by 13-year-old John Bell Benson The seven gold stars on the left represent the Big Dipper and the one on the right the North Star Quite a Competition Design contest winner John Bell Benson was born in Chignik a small ﬁ shing village on the south shore of the Alaska Peninsula He boasted an interesting background His father was Swedish and his mother was Russian The boy had to beat out 141 other kids that created designs for the Alaska ﬂ ag Most of the other designs are on display at the Alaska Historical Library and Museum State Motto North to the Future Statehood Date January 3 1959 Flag Adopted 1927 5

State Guides to Flags — page 3 — Arizona The setting sun that brings warmth and beauty to Arizona is brightly represented in its ﬂ ag So are the state colors of red and blue The copper star honors a state that is the largest copper producer in America Color Commentary Arizona gives tribute to the 13 original American colonies even though it became a state more than 100 years after they gained statehood The yellow and red alternating stripes in this ﬂ ag represent those colonies Those colors also symbolize Spanish inﬂ uence on Arizona State Motto God Enriches Statehood Date February 14 1912 Flag Adopted 1917 6

State Guides to Flags — page 4 — Arkansas Arkansas is the only state that produces diamonds Hence the diamond in the middle of its ﬂ ag The 25 stars surrounding it explain that Arkansas was the 25th state admitted to the Union Honoring Michigan One of the two blue stars in the Arkansas ﬂ ag honors the state of Michigan Why Because Arkansas and Michigan gained statehood around the same time Michigan was the 26th state admitted to the union Other stars within the diamond represent three inﬂ uential countries in state history the United States France and Spain State Motto The People Rule Statehood Date June 15 1836 Flag Adopted 1924 7

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